Executive Council District 2 candidate seeks to work with new governor, not against

By Samantha Allen

sallen@fosters.com

fosters.com

By Samantha Allen

sallen@fosters.com

Posted Oct. 16, 2012 at 3:15 AM

By Samantha Allen

sallen@fosters.com

Posted Oct. 16, 2012 at 3:15 AM

DOVER — Democrat Colin Van Ostern, a Concord resident running for the Executive Council seat for District 2, said he views a councilor’s position as one of collaboration with the next governor of New Hampshire, rather than one of combativeness. “I don’t look at it just as an adversarial, ‘I’m going to be check on the governor,’” he told the Foster’s editorial board this week. “ … Let’s make sure when we do spend money, it’s being spent as efficiently and smartly as possible. I think usually it’s more the Legislature’s role than the council’s role, frankly, to decide what should be our budget and not be, and when the Legislature has made those decisions, and made them in concert with the governor, it’s the council’s job to say, ‘OK, here’s what you’ve appropriated. Is this the most responsible way we can use those funds?’”Van Ostern moved to New Hampshire 11 years ago and now works as a business manager for the yogurt company Stonyfield Farm Inc. As an undergraduate at George Washington University, who then graduated from Dartmouth College business school, he considered pursuing a career in journalism before getting into the political arena, supporting and working for various Democratic party candidates. His resume includes work for Ann Kuster in 2010 as well as Jeanne Shaheen during her U.S. Senate campaign and John Edwards during his presidential campaign.Van Ostern said he “fell in love with the state” and wants to see it become as strong as it can be.“The philosophy I bring is, I’m not willing to sit back and let other states pass us by, or let us have a second-rate economy when there are things we can do about it … ,” he said. “Making tough choices is what businesses do everyday, and what families do everyday. Our state government should have just a bar just as high…”The candidate will face Republican Michael Tierney this Nov. 6. The two have had a contentious campaign so far, with criticisms lobbed from both sides, even during the primary races, which Tierney ran in unopposed. Van Ostern beat out two competitors, including John D. Shea who previously held the seat for two terms. Van Ostern, like Tierney, says he opposes the development of a state income tax, is weary of the privatization of state prisons and is in favor of competitive bidding for contracts. But the two have been pitted against one another, especially in a debate on funding for Planned Parenthood.Van Ostern clarified this discussion is not about abortion, though he is pro-choice and Tierney identifies with the pro-life cause. Van Ostern noted he believes state legislative bodies, and the Executive Council, are too bogged down by social issues. “The Executive Council has a real responsibility to lead and to focus really closely on economic growth and development issues,” he said. “I’ve been concerned over the last few years. There’s been a disproportionate amount of time spent on the social issues, both in the Legislature and on the council. I think, generally, that’s been a distraction from what our state government should be focused on.”He noted he is in favor of developing the state’s infrastructure, both “human and physical,” including building state highways and bolstering education. He said he was dissatisfied with the negative vote for expanding the passenger rail project, and would look to re-address that issue. He noted Stonyfield could make use of a state rail, but he would consult with others on the ethics of his vote if there proved to be any question of a conflict of interest if elected to the Executive Council. Van Ostern added, he does not represent his company and plans to serve on the council, like he has in his many political endeavors, on his own time. Asked which gubernatorial candidate he could work with, Democratic candidate Maggie Hassan or Republican Ovide Lamontagne, Van Ostern said either – he believes the council will conscientiously work on advising the governor, both of contracts and evaluation of appointments, and aid in shaping their administration. “I think it’s incumbent on the councilors to talk with the governor and say what our principles are at the beginning of the process,” he said. “Having an active council that’s very quiet about it until it’s their day to vote does no good for anybody.”The editorial board broached one of Tierney’s criticisms of Van Ostern – saying his opponent is seeking election to promote his own political career and move up through the ranks of the Democratic party. Van Ostern said perhaps it is easy to get caught up in insults, and he doesn’t believe that is the case at all. He added he thinks the council has acted too much as a champion in recent years for their political causes.“One of my concerns is I think the council has been a little too activist these last few years. I’m not running because I think we need a Democratic version of today’s all Republican executive council,” he claimed. “I think we need to make some shifts on the way it’s been working.” Van Ostern said he comes at things from a much more practical standpoint, rather than one of personal philosophy. For example, on the Planned Parenthood issue, he said he is concerned about an organization, which offers valued medical services to both women and men, leaving the state altogether if the funding weren’t available to it. “As a state government, we need to look practically at what the results are of the actions that we’re going to be taking votes on,” he said. “Are those results strengthening our communities or are they making them weaker? In that example, I think it’s weakening the state and I’d be concerned about that.”